Prolonged dry weather has had far-reaching effects on the lives of many. Few farmers have managed more than one cut of silage or hay, and livestock raised in open field systems have needed expensive supplementary feeding at a time when normally they need little or nothing extra.
Other crop yields may be reduced as well. Gardeners report the loss of plants or reduced cropping. In some parts of the country, hosepipe bans have been introduced, and many of us have reduced our water usage. This is such a precious commodity for sustaining every aspect of our physical lives.
Dryness may describe other aspects of our lives, for example when work or relationships are unfulfilling or when we feel there is something missing from our lives. It is an image that appears in the Bible when we are feeling cut off from God. As the writer of Psalm 63 says “my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Revelation 22.1 speaks of “the river of the water of life, flowing from the throne of God“.
Attending to this type of thirst is vital for our well-being. Just as we need enough water to sustain us in hot weather, so we need to ensure we make space for drinking deeply of the water that can sustain our emotional and spiritual health.
Revd Rhona Floate, White Horse Team
Ministry.
